“Among the Dead” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com
We are on sacred ground. Northwestern University is on the traditional homelands of the people of the Council of Three Fires—the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa—as well as the Menominee, Miami, and Ho-Chunk nations. Before it was stolen from them through colonization and forced removal, this land was a site of trade, travel, gathering, and healing for more than a dozen other native tribes. The state of Illinois is still home to more than 100,000 tribal members. In the spirit of healing and making amends for the harm that was done, we acknowledge the native and indigenous peoples who called this land home. We pledge ourselves as members of the Northwestern School of Communication to turn our statements into action and build better relationships with native and indigenous communities in Evanston, in Chicago, and throughout the region.
I first encountered Among the Dead last winter, when martial law was declared in Korea.
I received deep comfort from the characters in this play.
To witness how small and vulnerable one person can seem beneath the immense forces of politics and history—
and yet, how fiercely resilient we are;
how belief and hope refuse to collapse;
and how, when such human beings gather, we might shift politics and history themselves—
even catching a glimpse of that possibility was enough for me.
At that time, when I was alone reading this play,
I needed to believe that history will move in the right direction,
and that each individual human being carries that possibility within them.
While making this play together with everyone, I found even greater comfort.
To meet another human being— to encounter a completely different universe inside them, and to allow that universe to look back into mine— reminded me of how extraordinary that is. For that, I am forever grateful for everyone who participated within making this play come to life.
As I write this, I am filled with both fear and anticipation—
the vast unknown of how this play will expand when it meets its audience here, now.
I hope that everyone who has made this work together,
and everyone who encounters it,
may find a light within themselves, even in deep darkness.
And when your own light feels lost,
I hope you might find the possibility of seeing someone else’s light instead.
I hope that the phrase “human beings are beings of infinite possibility”
does not feel hollow here,
but arrives as something felt—a quiet, insistent resonance in the heart.
This play moves around three different timelines – 1944, 1950, and 1975 – which mark some of the key moments in 20th-century Korean history. Click the below link for important historical events that would be helpful to know before watching the performance!
Dramaturgy material for AMONG THE DEAD
Sarah Bock — Ana
Ellie Kim — Number Four
Alex Arinkin — Luke
Zakariah-Hany Massoud — Jesus
Jake Houston — U/S Luke, Jesus
Eunbi Lee — Director
Arina Khlus, Ethan Park — Asst. Directors
Sara Azampanah — Scenic Designer
Mackenzie Mitchell — Costume Designer
Ryan Burkle — Lighting Designer
Louis Van Camp — Sound Designer
Ash Aranha — Asst. Sound Designer
Connor Wang — Sound Design Mentor
A Inn Doo, Ryan Burkle — Voiceovers
Minjoo Kim — Dramaturg
Courtney Abbott — Intimacy/Fight Choreographer
Lucy Elkin — Costume Coordinator
Jayce Lewis — Stage Manager
Becky Warner — Asst. Stage Manager
Sofia Ubilla — Run Crew Head
Ethan Chang, Katie Miller, Sterling Powell, Claire Carley, Ella Sorkin, Sopheen Lee, Elijah Curtin-Adelman — Run Crew
Courtney Abbott (Intimacy/Fight Choreographer, they/she) NU: Lobster; Wink; February House; Museum; Antigone; Dracula, a feminist revenge fantasy, really; Violet; The Prom; Dance Nation; Marisol. NU Opera: Albert Herring; Cosí Fan Tutte; The Magic Flute. Chicago: The Book of Will (Promethean); Glassheart (City Lit); the love object (The Story); In His Hands (First Floor); Lavender Men (About Face); Love Song (Remy Bumppo). Education: MFA, Ohio University; BS, Northwestern.
Alex Arinkin (Luke, he/him) has been a dedicated performer for almost all his life. Recent credits include: Valentine in Twelfth Night at Madison Shakespeare Company and Charlie in Hometown at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Alex has trained at American Players Theatre in Wisconsin as well as at Berkeley Repertory Theatre in California.
Ryan Burkle (Lighting Designer, he/they) is so grateful to be opening his first play at Northwestern! Originally from Texas where he worked with many theaters, dance companies, and other live events groups before moving to Chicago in 2023. Later this academic year you will be able to see his work again in “Carmen” in the Opera School, and “Love and Information” here in the Wirtz Center!
Arina Khlus (Assistant Director, she/her) is an international student from Belarus, studying Psychology and Theatre. A performer, dancer, and aspiring director, she explores how human behavior and storytelling intersect on stage. Arina has appeared in numerous productions globally and continues to develop her craft through acting, movement, and devised work. She is thrilled to bring her global perspective and creative curiosity to this production!
Minjoo Kim (Dramaturg, she/her) is a second-year PhD student in Theater and Drama (IPTD) from Seoul, South Korea. Her research focuses on performance practices in sites that reckon with histories of violence. Dramaturgy credits include “Wink” at Wirtz, “Bull in a China Shop” and “The Oresteia” at Edison Theatre.
Ash Kiran Aranha (Assistant Sound Designer, he/him) is a junior at Northwestern studying theatre and computer science. He has been a sound designer and engineer for various student theatre productions; favorites include The Dolphin Show’s Cinderella and Arts Alliance’s Pippin. He spent his summer as a sound design intern at The Muny in St. Louis, where he was mentored by Broadway sound designers, and along the way, picked up some expert meteorology skills. Thank you to Louis for everything!
Eunbi Lee (Director, she/her) is a playwright and director based in Seoul, Korea. She is the co-founder of Theatre Company Yallariyalla. Her recent works include “A Public Reading of an Unproduced Screenplay About the Death of Walt Disney” (Abbott Hall, Northwestern University), “GV Villain Taegyung Go” (Daehakro Arts Theatre, Doosan Arts Center), “Zero Shield Zero” (Daehakro Arts Theatre), “Home, I’m Darling” (Miarigogae Theatre; Samilro Changgo Theatre), and “Waiting for [ ]” (National Theatre Company of Korea).
Ethan Park (Assistant Director, he/him) is excited to make his assistant director debut through “Among the Dead”! Currently a sophomore studying theatre, legal studies, and sociology, Ethan has also spent his career performing in musical theater, with recent roles including Gabe Goodman in “Next to Normal” and Seymour Krelborn in “Little Shop of Horrors”. Working on such a meaningful process has been incredibly rewarding and he would like to thank Eunbi for this amazing opportunity. Enjoy the show!
We thank our donors who make it possible to develop and sustain the quality of productions at Northwestern University. The following individuals and institutions have made gifts to one or more of the following areas: the Virginia Wadsworth Wirtz Center for the Performing Arts, American Music Theatre Project and the Music Theatre Funds. All gifts were made between September 1, 2024 and August 31, 2025.
Donate online at giving.northwestern.edu.
Thank you for supporting Northwestern University Theatre and Dance!</stron
E. Patrick Johnson, Dean of the School of Communication and Annenberg University Professor
Lori Barcliff Baptista, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs and Advising
Roderick Hawkins, Associate Dean of External Affairs and Chief of Staff
Molly Losh, Associate Dean for Research
Bonnie Martin-Harris, Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs
Jeff Brown, Associate Dean for Finance and Administration
Rayvon Fouche’, Associate Dean for Graduate Education
Tanya Palmer, Assistant Dean & Executive Artistic Director
Bharath Chandrasekaran, Roxelyn and Richard Pepper Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders
Jeremy Birnholtz, Communication Studies
Joshua Chambers-Letson, Performance Studies
Jacob Smith, Interim Chair of Radio/Television/Film
Henry Godinez, Theatre
Melissa Blanco Borelli, Director of Dance
Megan Roberts, Associate Chair of Roxelyn and Richard Pepper Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders
Courtney Lynam Scherr, Associate Chair of Communication Studies
Erin Courtney, Associate Chair of Radio/Television/Film
Tommy Rappley, Associate Chair of Theatre
Jorge Silva — Director of Business Operations & Managing Director
Michael Constantino — Associate Managing Director
Pete Brace — Marketing & Development Manager
Heather Basarab — Production Manager
Valerie Tu — Production Manager, Chicago
Gianna Carter — Production Coordinator
Aziza Macklin — Audience Experience Manager
Jamie L. Mayhew — Box Office Manager
Lynn Kelso — Imagine U Artistic Mentor
Ryan T. Nelson — Music Supervisor
Dylan Reyno — Technical Coordinator
Shannon Perry — Technical Supervisor
Emily Baker — Assistant Technical Supervisor
Dylan Jost — Scenic Carpenter
Micah Hofferth — Scenic Carpenter
James Weber — Scenic Artist
Eileen Rozycki — Assistant Scenic Artist
Chris Wych — Properties Supervisor
Kathy Beach Parsons — Properties Assistant
Eileen Clancy — Costume Shop Supervisor
Jessica Donaldson — Assistant Costume Shop Supervisor
Kristy White — Cutter/Draper
Pamela Brailey — Cutter/Draper
Renee Werth — Stitcher/Crafts Supervisor
Eli Hunstad — First Hand
Peter Anderson — Lighting & Sound Supervisor
Michael Trudeau — Associate Lighting & Sound Supervisor
Nate Walczyk — Lighting and Sound Technician
Sara Kurensky — Marketing Assistant
Stephen J. Lewis — OGMC Arts and Media Producer
Stephanie Kulke — OGMC Fine Arts Editor
Masi Asare — AMTP Artistic Director
Alaina Parr, Alex Myres, Alex Yang, Allyson Vasquez, Amanda Swickle, Amy Xu, Anah Shaikh, Arawen Alberg, Arran Kennedy Orive, Ashley Flores, Avery England, Aydn Calhoun, Ayla Richardson, Benny Wu, Cannon Elliott, Ciara Farris, Clio Siegel, Crom Amaya, Daniel Cho, Elijah Curtin-Adelman, Elle Pierre, Ellsworth Sullivan, Gavin Yi, Gemma Cohen, Ghino Lee, Haley Randall, Henry Rohrback, Isabella Mason, Jessica Guo, Jordin Amoah, Josaphina Brinkerhoff, Josefina Espino, Katherine Li, Kira Carpenter, Kris Lambert, Lucian Cruz, Mariah Waters, Maya Avery, Michael Peterson, Millie Rose Taub, Miracle Idowu, Morgan Marin, Natalie Mendoza, Noor Maghaydah, Nora Fox, Olivia Czyz, Olivia Kieffer, Olivia Wise, Owen Meehan-Egan, Pranav Singh, Poseybelle Stoeffer, Roie Dahan, Rose Peters, Ryan Cooke, Charles Lewis, Sebastian Vidra, Seidy Pichardo, Sophia Mitton-Fry, Sydney Chan, Sydney Frazure, Tamyrha Dunac, Tvesha Gupta, Valentina Brander, Vicky Laguerre, Walter Todd, Will Claudius, Yehuda Zilberstein, Yooha Park, Yumi Tallud
